The Sharks lost their game tonight. Perhaps I can rephrase that. The Sharks were annihilated in their semi-final game tonight and therefore lost to the Cowboys. The final score was 39-0.
Very disappointing. Maybe next year.
I have felt very 'out of sorts' today.
Lethargic and unmotivated.
I stayed in bed til late. Rode out to get coffee.
Attempted to finish off some photo editing, but my brain was completely fuzzy.
Adoring Husband wanted me to take some photos at the SES shed, of the group doing some training and other SES stuff, but the idea of spending a couple of hours trapped up there left me feeling totally freaked, so I rejected his request.
Instead, I sat in my lounge room with the blinds drawn and waited for the day to pass. I pedalled down the road for another coffee mid afternoon, but aside from that, my day was pretty blah.
I only drank two glasses of wine last night, so alcohol was certainly not the issue.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be a brighter day.
The weather has been pretty ordinary with strong winds all day, which made my trike rides very difficult with a fierce head wind in one direction that had me struggling to get to where I needed to go.
However, on a happy note, that wind is blowing through our bedroom window, so I will enjoy another breezy sleep tonight.
It's Saturday night, and I will be in bed before 10pm!
I made a delicious Curried Cabbage with Cashews to have with our duck breast tonight. Adoring Husband went back for seconds. It was quick and easy.
1/4 cup of butter
1/3 cup raw cashews
3 Tablespoons of minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon of cumin seed
1 small cabbage thinly shredded
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon coconut sugar
1 teaspoon of Himalayan salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
At the end before I served it, I also added 2 rashers of bacon finely chopped and fried crispy.
In a large frying pan, over a medium heat, melt butter. Add cashews, ginger and cumin and cook stirring often until cashews and ginger are golden and fragrant (about 2 minutes). Add cabbage and turmeric, cook, stirring often, until tender (about 10 minutes), then sprinkle the coconut sugar over the cabbage and stir through. This balances the flavours nicely.
Mine got a little dry and the pan began to burn the spices a bit, so I added a little water to dilute the spices off the pan, which very slightly steamed the cabbage. I stirred the bacon through before serving.
This amount is supposed to serve 6 - it actually served two in this household!!
I didn't think to take a photo.
Anyway, I'm off to bed before the clock strikes ten.
Nite all.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
Fabulous Friday
This is just a short post.
For a change, I have NOT had too much wine, but after a fabulous day of retail therapy, I am feeling quite weary and am off to bed before 10.30pm.
Today, I treated myself to a pedicure, bought a three tops, five bottoms (3 of them at half price), four dvds, some vitamins for Adoring Husband, two pyjama tops, a couple of books and a trolley load of groceries.
I received my colloidal silver generator in the mail and made two batches of colloidal silver. I'm very happy with it and Adoring Husband and I have already had half a glass each. I've poured some into the dog's water bowl and also into my vase of dying flowers .. they are already rejuvenated and looking fresh and new!
That's my story for the day.
Nite all.
For a change, I have NOT had too much wine, but after a fabulous day of retail therapy, I am feeling quite weary and am off to bed before 10.30pm.
Today, I treated myself to a pedicure, bought a three tops, five bottoms (3 of them at half price), four dvds, some vitamins for Adoring Husband, two pyjama tops, a couple of books and a trolley load of groceries.
I received my colloidal silver generator in the mail and made two batches of colloidal silver. I'm very happy with it and Adoring Husband and I have already had half a glass each. I've poured some into the dog's water bowl and also into my vase of dying flowers .. they are already rejuvenated and looking fresh and new!
That's my story for the day.
Nite all.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Slow Morning
I woke up at 6am, looked at my watch and thought to myself 'hmm another hour of sleep', then rolled over and fell asleep until 8am!
I lay in bed reading until 9am.
What a fabulous start to the day!
I pedalled down to the Post Office to pick up my parcel, bought some 'grass fed' beef from the butcher and some distilled water from the supermarket, as well as a coffee for Adoring Husband and myself.
The distilled water will be used to make colloidal silver when my generator arrives in the mail (hopefully tomorrow). I expected it to arrive today, but was disappointed. The Best Barista at our local shops lent me her book 'Everything you need to know about colloidal silver' so I'll be reading up on that and will share some info here in the coming days.
One of the psychotic dogs received a partial grooming today. It took me about 30 minutes to give her face cleanse and trim the hair on her head and her butt. Afterwards, she ran around outside for 5 minutes then promptly jumped through the door and ran all over my clean floor with her dirty wet feet!!
Ugh!!
So I mopped the floor ... again ... and locked her out til she dried properly.
Next job was clearing the fridge so that it was ready to fill with our FROG box order.
Adoring Husband had an SES meeting in The Bay tonight, so I cooked him an early dinner and before he arrived home after the meeting, I prepared a bowl full of blueberries and strawberries and the special chocolate cream that he enjoys so much.
We've had some big storms tonight. Lots of thunder and a spectacular light show. Big enough that the dogs became particularly psychotic and needed to go to their 'safe' chair in the lounge room. The rain has been quite heavy for the last hour or so.
There is a deliciously cool breeze wafting through our bedroom window right now and with the sound of the rain on our tin roof, it is the perfect sleeping weather, so I am off to bed right now to take advantage of it.
Nite all.
I lay in bed reading until 9am.
What a fabulous start to the day!
I pedalled down to the Post Office to pick up my parcel, bought some 'grass fed' beef from the butcher and some distilled water from the supermarket, as well as a coffee for Adoring Husband and myself.
The distilled water will be used to make colloidal silver when my generator arrives in the mail (hopefully tomorrow). I expected it to arrive today, but was disappointed. The Best Barista at our local shops lent me her book 'Everything you need to know about colloidal silver' so I'll be reading up on that and will share some info here in the coming days.
One of the psychotic dogs received a partial grooming today. It took me about 30 minutes to give her face cleanse and trim the hair on her head and her butt. Afterwards, she ran around outside for 5 minutes then promptly jumped through the door and ran all over my clean floor with her dirty wet feet!!
Ugh!!
So I mopped the floor ... again ... and locked her out til she dried properly.
Next job was clearing the fridge so that it was ready to fill with our FROG box order.
Adoring Husband had an SES meeting in The Bay tonight, so I cooked him an early dinner and before he arrived home after the meeting, I prepared a bowl full of blueberries and strawberries and the special chocolate cream that he enjoys so much.
We've had some big storms tonight. Lots of thunder and a spectacular light show. Big enough that the dogs became particularly psychotic and needed to go to their 'safe' chair in the lounge room. The rain has been quite heavy for the last hour or so.
There is a deliciously cool breeze wafting through our bedroom window right now and with the sound of the rain on our tin roof, it is the perfect sleeping weather, so I am off to bed right now to take advantage of it.
Nite all.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
A Good Start
This morning, I did get a start on my original 'to do' list.
I said that I'm a perfectionist and need to take the time to do the job properly ... well today was a perfect example.
It took me over 3 hours to
A big bonus was finding my Emu Oil in the bathroom cupboard! I have a jar of the rub and a bottle of the oil, which is great for Adoring Husbands sore muscles.
Because of his tremor, his neck muscles give him quite a bit of grief and sometimes he needs some deep tissue massaging. I've been using Tiger Balm, which is quite effective, but I'm hoping that the Emu oil or balm will do the trick because it's much easier to wash off my hands and it doesn't smell as strong.
Anyway, by the time I'd finished that short list of housework, it was 1pm and I'd had enough.
Is it any wonder that I avoid my 'to do' list when it takes me so long to do so little!
I have to add cleaning the pantry as well as cleaning out all of the kitchen cupboards to my list. It's definitely the time to do it all .. spring cleaning and decluttering .. a fresh start.
I found my little soft cover book 'Speed Cleaning' so I'm going to read that and see if it can give me some tips on being less perfect and more efficient with a regular house keeping routine.
Once I get myself organised with the house stuff, I will feel free to reward myself with time in the kitchen and also out with my camera.
My back garden, this afternoon, has been a hive of activity with bird life. I saw a Peaceful Dove, a Crested Pigeon, two Blue Faced Honey Eaters, a Lewin's Honey Eater, a Wattlebird, two Willy Wagtails and three Rainbow Bee Eaters ... oh and 4 chickens! I almost don't have to leave my front door to get some nice bird shots.
It's 11pm.
Bed time.
Nite all.
I said that I'm a perfectionist and need to take the time to do the job properly ... well today was a perfect example.
It took me over 3 hours to
- 'Partially' clean my main bathroom. I cleaned out the drawers and washed the insides of them before reorganising and replacing the contents. I tossed away one and a half grocery bags of out of date or 'I will never use this stuff' stuff. I cleaned the basin, the bench and the bathtub. Mopped the floor and changed the bath mats. I still need to clean the shower recess and dust the free standing cupboard.
- Vacuum and mop the family room, my study and the kitchen .. then towel dry the floors.
- Three loads of washing.
- Roast a chicken to be used for lunch and dinner.
- Make Adoring Husband's lunch of chicken and salad.
A big bonus was finding my Emu Oil in the bathroom cupboard! I have a jar of the rub and a bottle of the oil, which is great for Adoring Husbands sore muscles.
Because of his tremor, his neck muscles give him quite a bit of grief and sometimes he needs some deep tissue massaging. I've been using Tiger Balm, which is quite effective, but I'm hoping that the Emu oil or balm will do the trick because it's much easier to wash off my hands and it doesn't smell as strong.
Anyway, by the time I'd finished that short list of housework, it was 1pm and I'd had enough.
Is it any wonder that I avoid my 'to do' list when it takes me so long to do so little!
I have to add cleaning the pantry as well as cleaning out all of the kitchen cupboards to my list. It's definitely the time to do it all .. spring cleaning and decluttering .. a fresh start.
I found my little soft cover book 'Speed Cleaning' so I'm going to read that and see if it can give me some tips on being less perfect and more efficient with a regular house keeping routine.
Once I get myself organised with the house stuff, I will feel free to reward myself with time in the kitchen and also out with my camera.
My back garden, this afternoon, has been a hive of activity with bird life. I saw a Peaceful Dove, a Crested Pigeon, two Blue Faced Honey Eaters, a Lewin's Honey Eater, a Wattlebird, two Willy Wagtails and three Rainbow Bee Eaters ... oh and 4 chickens! I almost don't have to leave my front door to get some nice bird shots.
It's 11pm.
Bed time.
Nite all.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Reading the Words
I have another list.
It's a list of books that, apparently, all spiritual seekers should read.
I spend too much time online to actually read, but if I was going to read, these books would be in my top 20 because I'm more of a 'personal growth' and 'self help' kind of girl.
I like to take the bits that I agree with and the bits that I think will help me, discard the rest and then slowly fit all the pieces to the puzzle of my life.
Before I show you the new list, let me give you some examples of books that I have bought, borrowed and read in the last ten years ...
'Just a Little Prick' by Peter and Hilary Butler
'Food is Better Medicine than Drugs' by Patrick Holford
'You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise L Hay
'Crystals and Crystal Healing' by Simon Lily
'On Grief and Grieving' by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
'The Business of Bliss' by Janet Allon
'Secrets of Longevity' by Dr Maoshing Ni
'The Transformed Mind' by The Dalai Lama
'The Procrastination Equation' by Piers Steel (actually didn't finish that one yet hehe)
'The Journey' by Brandon Bays
'Passage to Power' by Leslie Kenton
... just to name a few AND many many books on Feng Shui!
So my new and short list of books goes a bit like this ...
'Nature and The Human Soul' by Bill Plotkin
'The Way of the Peaceful Warrior' by Dan Millman
'The Denial of Death' by Ernest Becker
'A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose' by Eckhart Tolle
I'm open to other suggestions of course, and I know a few people out there in my cyberworld who could probably recommend a book or two .. I'm certain that Grannymus could share some titles!
So if I could get my life in some kind of order and under my control (and perhaps one of these books could help me do that!) then I could find the time to enjoy reading again. Also, if I could find a book that could keep me awake for more than three pages, that would be a bonus!
Most of my friends and family are BIG readers. They will certainly contribute to keeping libraries, both big and small, remain in existence for a few more decades yet.
There is something that I know readers really love, and it's the smell of a new book, the scent of an old book and the sweet aroma that emits from a secondhand book store.
We have a floor to ceiling book case in one bedroom that is full of recipe books, self help books, gardening books, travel books, photo albums, autobiographies, Clive Cussler novels, my favourite Susan Howatch novels and assorted other reading matter.
I read my Susan Howatch books every couple of years .. in fact I'm due to read them again this year. They take me back to a past era and I easily get lost in their magic.
If you're interested, I didn't get anything done on my 'to do' list today. Oh and I can tell that you are not surprised!
I spent a little longer than usual at morning tea with the girls and then I got a call from Adoring Husband who was out of town and I had to do a job for him at the shopping centre. After that I was riding around town for about an hour looking for nests, until I realised that I didn't even have my camera with me, so I couldn't take any photos anyway!
I cooked up a late lunch for AH, who was supposed to be out of town for the night, but he changed his mind and stayed home instead. My only achievement for the afternoon was doing a couple of loads of washing.
Sheesh.
So let's have a fresh start tomorrow! It's never too late to try again :)
Nite all.
It's a list of books that, apparently, all spiritual seekers should read.
I spend too much time online to actually read, but if I was going to read, these books would be in my top 20 because I'm more of a 'personal growth' and 'self help' kind of girl.
I like to take the bits that I agree with and the bits that I think will help me, discard the rest and then slowly fit all the pieces to the puzzle of my life.
Before I show you the new list, let me give you some examples of books that I have bought, borrowed and read in the last ten years ...
'Just a Little Prick' by Peter and Hilary Butler
'Food is Better Medicine than Drugs' by Patrick Holford
'You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise L Hay
'Crystals and Crystal Healing' by Simon Lily
'On Grief and Grieving' by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
'The Business of Bliss' by Janet Allon
'Secrets of Longevity' by Dr Maoshing Ni
'The Transformed Mind' by The Dalai Lama
'The Procrastination Equation' by Piers Steel (actually didn't finish that one yet hehe)
'The Journey' by Brandon Bays
'Passage to Power' by Leslie Kenton
... just to name a few AND many many books on Feng Shui!
So my new and short list of books goes a bit like this ...
'Nature and The Human Soul' by Bill Plotkin
'The Way of the Peaceful Warrior' by Dan Millman
'The Denial of Death' by Ernest Becker
'A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose' by Eckhart Tolle
I'm open to other suggestions of course, and I know a few people out there in my cyberworld who could probably recommend a book or two .. I'm certain that Grannymus could share some titles!
So if I could get my life in some kind of order and under my control (and perhaps one of these books could help me do that!) then I could find the time to enjoy reading again. Also, if I could find a book that could keep me awake for more than three pages, that would be a bonus!
Most of my friends and family are BIG readers. They will certainly contribute to keeping libraries, both big and small, remain in existence for a few more decades yet.
There is something that I know readers really love, and it's the smell of a new book, the scent of an old book and the sweet aroma that emits from a secondhand book store.
We have a floor to ceiling book case in one bedroom that is full of recipe books, self help books, gardening books, travel books, photo albums, autobiographies, Clive Cussler novels, my favourite Susan Howatch novels and assorted other reading matter.
I read my Susan Howatch books every couple of years .. in fact I'm due to read them again this year. They take me back to a past era and I easily get lost in their magic.
If you're interested, I didn't get anything done on my 'to do' list today. Oh and I can tell that you are not surprised!
I spent a little longer than usual at morning tea with the girls and then I got a call from Adoring Husband who was out of town and I had to do a job for him at the shopping centre. After that I was riding around town for about an hour looking for nests, until I realised that I didn't even have my camera with me, so I couldn't take any photos anyway!
I cooked up a late lunch for AH, who was supposed to be out of town for the night, but he changed his mind and stayed home instead. My only achievement for the afternoon was doing a couple of loads of washing.
Sheesh.
So let's have a fresh start tomorrow! It's never too late to try again :)
Nite all.
Monday, September 14, 2015
A Day of Lists
Here is my list of top ten 'Did you knows' for the day ...
Here is my 'to do' list for tomorrow (in no particular order) ...
- Toads only eat moving prey.
- Koalas sleep around 18 hours each day.
- Camel's milk doesn't curdle.
- Frogs can't swallow with their eyes open.
- Giraffes and rats can last longer without water than camels.
- Hummingbirds can't walk.
- A dolphin's top speed is 60 kph.
- A snail can sleep for 3 years.
- A chameleon's tongue is twice the length of it's body.
- A moth has no stomach.
Here is my 'to do' list for tomorrow (in no particular order) ...
- Vacuum
- Mop
- Clean the main bathroom
- Clean out the fridge
- Tidy my desk
- Change our bedding
- Make chocolate energy balls
- Morning tea with the girls
- Finish editing photos
- Make a new 'to do' list for Wednesday
- Groom the dogs
- Clear out the middle bedroom to become my office
- Sort through the clothes in the back bedroom - 'keep' and 'toss'
- Wash the windows
- Re-organise the filing cabinet
- Clean out the linen cupboard
- Package up my jewellery making gear ready to sell
- Get a hair cut
- Back up all of my photos to the hard drive
- Clear my bedside drawers
- Spend a day in The Bay by myself
- Get a pedicure
- Spend some golden hours outside with my camera
- Learn how to use my editing tablet
- Learn some photoshop tricks
- Go to the movies by myself
- Romantic strolls along the beach with Adoring Husband
- Plan some morning teas at home
- Spend time with friends
- Have more fun in the kitchen
- Learn a language
- Learn a musical instrument
- Design and create with sewing
- Learn to dance
- Learn to sing
- Create a website
- Learn to paddle board
- Make a budget
- Have a housework plan
- Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier
It's not even 11pm .. this is a good start for number 10 on the last list!
Nite all.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Lacking Motivation
I have so many plans in my head for all that needs to be done around the house, as well as all that I want to do, including photography and cooking.
The list is so long that it's difficult to know when and where to start!
Rather than figure it out, my brain just shuts down. My butt just sits down, and nothing even gets started.
I think I'm just a little bit overwhelmed by it all.
I wonder if a 'to do' list would help?
Then I could just slowly but surely tick things off as I go.
Of course, the other problem is that I'm a perfectionist and I can't just do a half hearted job .. if I can't take the time to do it perfectly, then I don't want to do it at all!
The longer I leave it, the bigger the job! It's a catch 22 situation really.
So, instead of doing those things and instead of complaining too loudly about it, I am going to list all the things that I love and enjoy and appreciate about life and living!
That's much easier than getting physically productive and doing what needs to be done!
I love being married to Adoring Husband.
I love sunny Spring days.
I love smiling faces.
I love sunrises and sunsets.
I love clear starry nights.
I love fresh flowers.
I love the sound of laughter.
I love random acts of kindness.
I love music.
I love fresh delicious food.
I love to hear 'I love you'.
I love big warm hugs.
I love gently waking from a sound sleep.
I love honest friendship.
I love baby giggles.
I love family.
I love bare feet in the sand.
I love my first coffee of the day.
I love watching the full moon rise out of the ocean.
I love the smell of spices frying at the beginning of a curry.
I love a hot shower on a Winters morning.
I love the salty smell of the ocean.
I love cute baby animals.
I love fresh veggies from the garden.
I love the smell of rain on freshly cut grass.
I love road trips with BFFs.
I love bright happy colours.
I love a cool breeze on my face as I fall asleep.
I love a glass of wine with friends at the end of a long day.
I love sitting alone in my house and sobbing uncontrollably over a sad movie.
I love watching an eagle soaring over the ocean.
I love open fires.
I love rainbows.
I love reading bed time stories to Chicklet.
Do you have your own 'I love' list?
I still have some more photos to edit tomorrow. BGWLBH, I haven't forgotten .. they are still coming :)
Bed time for me.
Nite all.
The list is so long that it's difficult to know when and where to start!
Rather than figure it out, my brain just shuts down. My butt just sits down, and nothing even gets started.
I think I'm just a little bit overwhelmed by it all.
I wonder if a 'to do' list would help?
Then I could just slowly but surely tick things off as I go.
Of course, the other problem is that I'm a perfectionist and I can't just do a half hearted job .. if I can't take the time to do it perfectly, then I don't want to do it at all!
The longer I leave it, the bigger the job! It's a catch 22 situation really.
So, instead of doing those things and instead of complaining too loudly about it, I am going to list all the things that I love and enjoy and appreciate about life and living!
That's much easier than getting physically productive and doing what needs to be done!
I love being married to Adoring Husband.
I love sunny Spring days.
I love smiling faces.
I love sunrises and sunsets.
I love clear starry nights.
I love fresh flowers.
I love the sound of laughter.
I love random acts of kindness.
I love music.
I love fresh delicious food.
I love to hear 'I love you'.
I love big warm hugs.
I love gently waking from a sound sleep.
I love honest friendship.
I love baby giggles.
I love family.
I love bare feet in the sand.
I love my first coffee of the day.
I love watching the full moon rise out of the ocean.
I love the smell of spices frying at the beginning of a curry.
I love a hot shower on a Winters morning.
I love the salty smell of the ocean.
I love cute baby animals.
I love fresh veggies from the garden.
I love the smell of rain on freshly cut grass.
I love road trips with BFFs.
I love bright happy colours.
I love a cool breeze on my face as I fall asleep.
I love a glass of wine with friends at the end of a long day.
I love sitting alone in my house and sobbing uncontrollably over a sad movie.
I love watching an eagle soaring over the ocean.
I love open fires.
I love rainbows.
I love reading bed time stories to Chicklet.
Do you have your own 'I love' list?
I still have some more photos to edit tomorrow. BGWLBH, I haven't forgotten .. they are still coming :)
Bed time for me.
Nite all.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Crash Hot Not
What a rainy start to the day!
I didn't even get out on my trike until about 9.30am and then I got caught in a couple of light showers before I returned home.
I bought my coffee (and one for Adoring Husband) and made a quick visit to the markets where I bought the desk organiser that I had admired last month.
I may have had a touch too much wine last night .. to drown my dental woes .. and I wasn't feeling fabulous today, so I crashed on the couch where I watched a few movies before the football finals started.
For lunch I created a couple of plates full of fruit and veg with guacamole dip. Celery, capsicum, cucumber, carrot, pear, strawberries, boiled egg, cherry tomatoes, sauerkraut and smoked salmon. It was delicious and full of healthy goodness. All of it, except the pear and salmon was organic.
After that we munched on something less healthy .. store bought pork crackle. As delicious as it was, it left me feeling decidedly unwell and bloated and uncomfortable for about four hours afterwards. So bad that I couldn't eat dinner and all I wanted was water and sleep.
I had a power nap for about twenty minutes before the footy started this afternoon and then prepared dinner for AH. Crispy skinned chicken with salad.
Both footy games tonight were exciting games and happily for me, my team, the Brisbane Broncos won theirs against the Cowboys. AH's team plays tomorrow.
I played with a couple of photos from Fraser Island ... the first is a Scarlett Honeyeater and the second is a White Cheeked Honeyeater.
It's 10.30pm and I think I'll head to bed now. A good night's sleep will energise me for tomorrow. I have to edit the photos from my trip to Griffith and people are waiting for them. I also have a few more from Fraser Island .. family pics that need to be edited.
Happy birthday to the Nikonian for today too!
Nite all.
I didn't even get out on my trike until about 9.30am and then I got caught in a couple of light showers before I returned home.
I bought my coffee (and one for Adoring Husband) and made a quick visit to the markets where I bought the desk organiser that I had admired last month.
I may have had a touch too much wine last night .. to drown my dental woes .. and I wasn't feeling fabulous today, so I crashed on the couch where I watched a few movies before the football finals started.
For lunch I created a couple of plates full of fruit and veg with guacamole dip. Celery, capsicum, cucumber, carrot, pear, strawberries, boiled egg, cherry tomatoes, sauerkraut and smoked salmon. It was delicious and full of healthy goodness. All of it, except the pear and salmon was organic.
After that we munched on something less healthy .. store bought pork crackle. As delicious as it was, it left me feeling decidedly unwell and bloated and uncomfortable for about four hours afterwards. So bad that I couldn't eat dinner and all I wanted was water and sleep.
I had a power nap for about twenty minutes before the footy started this afternoon and then prepared dinner for AH. Crispy skinned chicken with salad.
Both footy games tonight were exciting games and happily for me, my team, the Brisbane Broncos won theirs against the Cowboys. AH's team plays tomorrow.
I played with a couple of photos from Fraser Island ... the first is a Scarlett Honeyeater and the second is a White Cheeked Honeyeater.
It's 10.30pm and I think I'll head to bed now. A good night's sleep will energise me for tomorrow. I have to edit the photos from my trip to Griffith and people are waiting for them. I also have a few more from Fraser Island .. family pics that need to be edited.
Happy birthday to the Nikonian for today too!
Nite all.
Dental Dilemma
Today, for the first time in twenty years, I had a dental appointment.
Approximately ten years ago, when Adoring Husband and I first began spending our holidays in The Bay, we would walk past this dental surgery and make fun of the name, wondering who the hell would go to a dentist by the name of Spike Jan?
Funnily enough, all these years later, this same dentist came highly recommended by people I trust, so even though I originally selected a different doctor, I changed my mind and made an appointment with Spike.
When I phoned to make the appointment, I was given a 'long' appointment to fix whatever problem I had and to make a long term dental plan.
Knowing that I would have to fill out forms for my first time there, I turned up twenty minutes early.
There at the reception desk was a mother and her young son, who was about ten years of age. This young boy had been slotted into my long appointment as an emergency. The mother was filling in the same forms that I would be soon be completing, so obviously, this was their first visit too!
One of the questions is 'Are you afraid of dentists?' and then it gives you the choice of a rating from one to ten and the spot after ten is the rating 'petrified'. The mother asked the boy if he was scared of the dentist and he laughed at her and said 'no' like she was a fool for asking.
I said to him 'you are very brave' and his mother said 'I think dentists aren't half as scary as they were when we were kids'. I agreed with her and began to fill in my own form.
Forty minutes later, I could hear that same boy yelling from the room down the hallway and then the dentist apologising. Soon after, the boy emerged with a mouth full of cotton wadding, very red eyes and a pained expression on his face. He looked at me. I looked at him. No words were required.
I considered leaving right then and there.
The reason it has been twenty years since I saw a dentist is because I am terrified of them. I hate the smell. I hate the sound of all those tools they use to drill, fill, clean, scrape, suck, blow and polish teeth. I hate the taste of everything that they put into your mouth .. the tools, the rinse, the cleaning fluids, the filling material. I hate the feel of the scraping and drilling and yanking. I hate the pain. I hate the cost.
There is nothing even remotely pleasant about a visit to the dentist.
It was now my turn.
I was called into a different room and was then asked to sit in a large spongy blue chair. He assumed that I was there for a check up, a clean and to repair a tooth.
So I explained that it had been twenty years, that I disliked him and 'his kind' and that I was there to have my front tooth looked at because it was loose, crooked, ugly and likely to fall out any minute.
He checked my mouth and discovered all kinds of ugliness there.
I have serious gum disease that needs to be rectified before my teeth can be touched. The two crooked teeth at the front will definitely need to be removed once the gum disease has been seen to. There are three other loose teeth that MAY correct themselves once the gum disease is fixed. All of my fillings are amalgam and need to removed and replaced. There is one broken tooth at the back that will need to be removed.
The teeth on the bottom jaw are ok, which is great, because apparently it is almost impossible to fit a denture properly on the bottom jaw. He told me to always try to keep the teeth on the bottom.
So now I have a referral to a Periodontist in Brisbane. He is, apparently, the best in Australia, so I hope that he can perform miracles with my mouth. I also need to have an x-ray before I go.
The dentist spent about twenty minutes scraping, scratching, pulling, gouging, polishing, sucking and blowing at my teeth to clean them and then explained the process that I would need to endure to get to the 'maintenance' stage.
He also told me that my serious gum disease was bad enough to negatively impact on my over all health and that it was imperative that I see to it quickly.
Surprisingly, with my private health cover, that visit only put me $100 out of pocket.
So that's it! My dental visit in a nutshell.
I'm not pleased, but it's pretty much what I expected.
It's now after midnight, so I'd best head to bed.
Nite all.
Approximately ten years ago, when Adoring Husband and I first began spending our holidays in The Bay, we would walk past this dental surgery and make fun of the name, wondering who the hell would go to a dentist by the name of Spike Jan?
Funnily enough, all these years later, this same dentist came highly recommended by people I trust, so even though I originally selected a different doctor, I changed my mind and made an appointment with Spike.
When I phoned to make the appointment, I was given a 'long' appointment to fix whatever problem I had and to make a long term dental plan.
Knowing that I would have to fill out forms for my first time there, I turned up twenty minutes early.
There at the reception desk was a mother and her young son, who was about ten years of age. This young boy had been slotted into my long appointment as an emergency. The mother was filling in the same forms that I would be soon be completing, so obviously, this was their first visit too!
One of the questions is 'Are you afraid of dentists?' and then it gives you the choice of a rating from one to ten and the spot after ten is the rating 'petrified'. The mother asked the boy if he was scared of the dentist and he laughed at her and said 'no' like she was a fool for asking.
I said to him 'you are very brave' and his mother said 'I think dentists aren't half as scary as they were when we were kids'. I agreed with her and began to fill in my own form.
Forty minutes later, I could hear that same boy yelling from the room down the hallway and then the dentist apologising. Soon after, the boy emerged with a mouth full of cotton wadding, very red eyes and a pained expression on his face. He looked at me. I looked at him. No words were required.
I considered leaving right then and there.
The reason it has been twenty years since I saw a dentist is because I am terrified of them. I hate the smell. I hate the sound of all those tools they use to drill, fill, clean, scrape, suck, blow and polish teeth. I hate the taste of everything that they put into your mouth .. the tools, the rinse, the cleaning fluids, the filling material. I hate the feel of the scraping and drilling and yanking. I hate the pain. I hate the cost.
There is nothing even remotely pleasant about a visit to the dentist.
It was now my turn.
I was called into a different room and was then asked to sit in a large spongy blue chair. He assumed that I was there for a check up, a clean and to repair a tooth.
So I explained that it had been twenty years, that I disliked him and 'his kind' and that I was there to have my front tooth looked at because it was loose, crooked, ugly and likely to fall out any minute.
He checked my mouth and discovered all kinds of ugliness there.
I have serious gum disease that needs to be rectified before my teeth can be touched. The two crooked teeth at the front will definitely need to be removed once the gum disease has been seen to. There are three other loose teeth that MAY correct themselves once the gum disease is fixed. All of my fillings are amalgam and need to removed and replaced. There is one broken tooth at the back that will need to be removed.
The teeth on the bottom jaw are ok, which is great, because apparently it is almost impossible to fit a denture properly on the bottom jaw. He told me to always try to keep the teeth on the bottom.
So now I have a referral to a Periodontist in Brisbane. He is, apparently, the best in Australia, so I hope that he can perform miracles with my mouth. I also need to have an x-ray before I go.
The dentist spent about twenty minutes scraping, scratching, pulling, gouging, polishing, sucking and blowing at my teeth to clean them and then explained the process that I would need to endure to get to the 'maintenance' stage.
He also told me that my serious gum disease was bad enough to negatively impact on my over all health and that it was imperative that I see to it quickly.
Surprisingly, with my private health cover, that visit only put me $100 out of pocket.
So that's it! My dental visit in a nutshell.
I'm not pleased, but it's pretty much what I expected.
It's now after midnight, so I'd best head to bed.
Nite all.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
A Fraser Kind of Day
It's been a lovely day!
Adoring Husband and I drove to River Heads early this morning and caught the 9am ferry across to Fraser Island.
The weather fluctuated between warm and sunny, cool and cloudy then cold and windy. I didn't dress for that sort of weather, so for some of the day I felt quite chilled! When the sun was out, it was enough to thaw the chill, but then the clouds would form and the wind would blow .. meanwhile, the children were in the swimming pool oblivious to the weather!
We arrived more than an hour before we were due to meet the family at Kingfisher, so we got ourselves a coffee, then went for a walk to the store so that AH could buy presents for the kids. He doesn't get to spoil his grandies very often, so he had fun picking out a couple of gifts for each of them.
Suddenly we found the family which numbered thirteen! What a crowd!
We headed to one resort area where there is a restaurant and shallow pools for the littlies, but it was closed for the day, so we had to return to the Kingfisher resort and the deeper pools.
We took over a large shaded area with tables and chairs dragged from all directions and ordered lunch. There were only two GF options, so AH and I ordered one of each. Everybody else seemed to go for the burgers and chips.
There were tag teams happening as the boys cared for the kids in the pool and a couple of the girls went for massages at the Natural Healing Centre. Everybody chatted together and AH spent time with the grandies, who were a little shy of him because we don't get to spend much time with them.
The food arrived in a timely manner, but was nothing special. I had a couple of glasses of wine and went for a stroll with my camera to photograph some gorgeous birds in the native bushes around the pools.
After about 2 1/2 hours, the kids had had enough, so the adults began the process of gathering all of their belongings .. what a shamozzel! It was crazy watching a group of young parents attempting to make decisions and then turn those decisions into reality. Their organisational skills left quite a bit to be desired!
So that was AH's and my cue to gather our own goods and head back to the pier to catch the 2pm ferry back to River Heads.
It was a really nice day, with just the right amount of socialising with each member of the family. We had a few laughs and the kids were very entertaining. They all head home on Saturday, so they are making the most of the last couple of days of holiday time.
I got quite a few pics, but only one to share tonight ...
AH and his lovely family :)
I'm off to the dentist tomorrow.
Terrified.
Wish me luck.
Nite all.
Adoring Husband and I drove to River Heads early this morning and caught the 9am ferry across to Fraser Island.
The weather fluctuated between warm and sunny, cool and cloudy then cold and windy. I didn't dress for that sort of weather, so for some of the day I felt quite chilled! When the sun was out, it was enough to thaw the chill, but then the clouds would form and the wind would blow .. meanwhile, the children were in the swimming pool oblivious to the weather!
We arrived more than an hour before we were due to meet the family at Kingfisher, so we got ourselves a coffee, then went for a walk to the store so that AH could buy presents for the kids. He doesn't get to spoil his grandies very often, so he had fun picking out a couple of gifts for each of them.
Suddenly we found the family which numbered thirteen! What a crowd!
We headed to one resort area where there is a restaurant and shallow pools for the littlies, but it was closed for the day, so we had to return to the Kingfisher resort and the deeper pools.
We took over a large shaded area with tables and chairs dragged from all directions and ordered lunch. There were only two GF options, so AH and I ordered one of each. Everybody else seemed to go for the burgers and chips.
There were tag teams happening as the boys cared for the kids in the pool and a couple of the girls went for massages at the Natural Healing Centre. Everybody chatted together and AH spent time with the grandies, who were a little shy of him because we don't get to spend much time with them.
The food arrived in a timely manner, but was nothing special. I had a couple of glasses of wine and went for a stroll with my camera to photograph some gorgeous birds in the native bushes around the pools.
After about 2 1/2 hours, the kids had had enough, so the adults began the process of gathering all of their belongings .. what a shamozzel! It was crazy watching a group of young parents attempting to make decisions and then turn those decisions into reality. Their organisational skills left quite a bit to be desired!
So that was AH's and my cue to gather our own goods and head back to the pier to catch the 2pm ferry back to River Heads.
It was a really nice day, with just the right amount of socialising with each member of the family. We had a few laughs and the kids were very entertaining. They all head home on Saturday, so they are making the most of the last couple of days of holiday time.
I got quite a few pics, but only one to share tonight ...
AH and his lovely family :)
I'm off to the dentist tomorrow.
Terrified.
Wish me luck.
Nite all.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Wrinkles Be Gone!
Years ago, in the mid 90s, I used a beauty product that smoothed away wrinkles .. not that I had serious wrinkles back then, but in my mid 30s I felt that I had some fine lines that I wasn't too happy with .. oh to have those fine lines now!
The particular product was from a well known brand and it tightened the skin around the eyes which caused the lines to disappear. It was quite magical, however, after about 2-3 hours it became quite noticeably powdery around the eyes which kind of highlighted the lines even more. So I stopped using it.
A few months ago, I discovered a similar product, but was unable to purchase it, due to company limits on international orders. Recently those rules and limits changed, so I ordered some, which arrived today.
I dabbed it around one eye only, so that I could compare the 'before' and 'after'. How stupid of me NOT to take a photo! Ok, I'm going to go into the bathroom right now and conduct the experiment again and take a photo, so that you can see how it works.
Be right back ...
I only used my iphone to take the photo, so the quality isn't very good. Perhaps I'll have another go on Friday and use my camera to get a clearer pic.
So, yes, it removes the wrinkles, but unfortunately it does exactly the same thing that the cream I used in the 90s did. The skin goes powdery after a few hours. It probably took about 4 hours for it to happen this time, but it still happens.
I will use it on Friday night and get some friendly critique from the girls.
Anyway, thought I would share a few quotes. Tomorrow, I hope to have some photos of Adoring Husband's family and the grandies to share here. Fraser Island is on the agenda!
Got an early start, so I'd best hit the sack.
Nite all.
The particular product was from a well known brand and it tightened the skin around the eyes which caused the lines to disappear. It was quite magical, however, after about 2-3 hours it became quite noticeably powdery around the eyes which kind of highlighted the lines even more. So I stopped using it.
A few months ago, I discovered a similar product, but was unable to purchase it, due to company limits on international orders. Recently those rules and limits changed, so I ordered some, which arrived today.
I dabbed it around one eye only, so that I could compare the 'before' and 'after'. How stupid of me NOT to take a photo! Ok, I'm going to go into the bathroom right now and conduct the experiment again and take a photo, so that you can see how it works.
Be right back ...
I only used my iphone to take the photo, so the quality isn't very good. Perhaps I'll have another go on Friday and use my camera to get a clearer pic.
So, yes, it removes the wrinkles, but unfortunately it does exactly the same thing that the cream I used in the 90s did. The skin goes powdery after a few hours. It probably took about 4 hours for it to happen this time, but it still happens.
I will use it on Friday night and get some friendly critique from the girls.
Anyway, thought I would share a few quotes. Tomorrow, I hope to have some photos of Adoring Husband's family and the grandies to share here. Fraser Island is on the agenda!
Got an early start, so I'd best hit the sack.
Nite all.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Read All About It!
I found a very interesting article today about Alzheimer's Disease and a pioneering doctor, by the name of Dale E Bredesen, who is currently in the middle of intensive research and has made some interesting discoveries.
... and if you're interested in some of his research so far go here.
He has made some suggestions, the practise of which, have already improved the health of some of the subjects in his studies.
His suggestions are ...
1. Eliminate or greatly reduce simple carbohydrates and processed foods from your diet, including sugar, grains and other starches, since they can stir up inflammation in the brain.
2. Add probiotics to your diet
3. Take 5,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 daily.
4. Take a good multivitamin daily.
5. Take Vitamin B6 daily.
6. Take Vitamin B12 daily.
7. Take CoQ10 daily.
8. Add fish oil to your diet.
9. Take coconut oil daily.
10. Exercise rigorously, 30 to 45 minutes, 5 days a week
11. Sleep 8 hours a night.
12. Fast for a minimum 3 hours between dinner and going to bed.
13. Fast a minimum 12 hours between dinner and breakfast
14. Take turmeric daily. Consider taking Ashwagandha and Bacopa monniera daily.
15. If you eat meat, make it chicken, non-farmed fish, and occasional grass-fed beef.
16. Floss your teeth at least twice daily.
17. Meditate daily: adequate sleep and exercise improve blood flow to the brain and instigate neuron generation.
18. Hormone replacement therapy is indicated for women who have a hormonal imbalance that may be affecting brain function.
1. Eliminate or greatly reduce simple carbohydrates and processed foods from your diet, including sugar, grains and other starches, since they can stir up inflammation in the brain.
2. Add probiotics to your diet
3. Take 5,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 daily.
4. Take a good multivitamin daily.
5. Take Vitamin B6 daily.
6. Take Vitamin B12 daily.
7. Take CoQ10 daily.
8. Add fish oil to your diet.
9. Take coconut oil daily.
10. Exercise rigorously, 30 to 45 minutes, 5 days a week
11. Sleep 8 hours a night.
12. Fast for a minimum 3 hours between dinner and going to bed.
13. Fast a minimum 12 hours between dinner and breakfast
14. Take turmeric daily. Consider taking Ashwagandha and Bacopa monniera daily.
15. If you eat meat, make it chicken, non-farmed fish, and occasional grass-fed beef.
16. Floss your teeth at least twice daily.
17. Meditate daily: adequate sleep and exercise improve blood flow to the brain and instigate neuron generation.
18. Hormone replacement therapy is indicated for women who have a hormonal imbalance that may be affecting brain function.
... and if you're interested in some of his research so far go here.
There is a lot there, but it's quite an easy read .. especially near the bottom where you can read the results of his case studies.
We saw the movie "Ricki and The Flash" today. We all enjoyed it, but we also agreed that we wouldn't recommend that you rush out to see it. It was an interesting storyline that flowed quite well and finished with a 'feel good' ending, albeit predictable. The acting was great and the characters both likeable and loveable. A couple of us got teary in parts. Wait for it to come on TV :)
A couple of photos of the Ringneck Parrot that I forgot to share last week ...
For the first time in twenty years (almost to the day), I have made an appointment with a dentist.
EEP!!
I am terrified of both the experience AND the costs that will be involved! My mouth has a lot of problems including crooked, loose and broken teeth as well as gum problems which I fear, after discussions with a few family members, may be genetic.
However, I expect that once I have my mouth repaired, the last of my niggling health issues may disappear. We all know that problems with gums and teeth affects other areas of our health, so fingers crossed I'll be ready to climb mountains, swim oceans and jump canyons with rejuvenated and abundant health after my final dental visit.
Let the games begin!
Nite all.
We saw the movie "Ricki and The Flash" today. We all enjoyed it, but we also agreed that we wouldn't recommend that you rush out to see it. It was an interesting storyline that flowed quite well and finished with a 'feel good' ending, albeit predictable. The acting was great and the characters both likeable and loveable. A couple of us got teary in parts. Wait for it to come on TV :)
A couple of photos of the Ringneck Parrot that I forgot to share last week ...
For the first time in twenty years (almost to the day), I have made an appointment with a dentist.
EEP!!
I am terrified of both the experience AND the costs that will be involved! My mouth has a lot of problems including crooked, loose and broken teeth as well as gum problems which I fear, after discussions with a few family members, may be genetic.
However, I expect that once I have my mouth repaired, the last of my niggling health issues may disappear. We all know that problems with gums and teeth affects other areas of our health, so fingers crossed I'll be ready to climb mountains, swim oceans and jump canyons with rejuvenated and abundant health after my final dental visit.
Let the games begin!
Nite all.
Monday, September 7, 2015
How it Feels
I don't know about you, but this is how it feels for me ...
It's always shocking when someone makes an 'old' comment, or I see a photo of myself, or I see an old friend after a long period of time or when I have to tick the 'over 50' box on a questionnaire.
How my body looks and how my brain thinks, are two completely different things!
My cold symptoms seem to have withdrawn again today. I've coughed a couple of times, but no runny nose and no congestion and I've felt more energised.
I spent an hour pedalling around in the warm Winter sunshine searching for Tawny nests again, without any luck. I found a Crested Pigeon nest but it was inside somebody's front yard and there was no clear view for my camera to get a good shot. I could see one little baby poking it's head out from under the parent but just couldn't get close enough for a shot.
I also found a Noisy Mynah nest with chicks, but it was just a little too high for me to reach for a shot. If it was a more interesting bird, I might drag a ladder to the tree for a better angle.
That was the only luck I had in the hour.
Tomorrow, I'm off to the movies with a couple of my girls to see Ricki and The Flash starring Meryl Streep, her real life daughter Mamie Gummer and one of many heart throbs from my youth, Rick Springfield. I'm looking forward to it.
Still no adventure in the kitchen. Twice now, I've sat down to search my recipes, but got side tracked by emails and facebook and links to interesting stories. Before I know it, a couple of hours have passed and I get side tracked by something else like hanging washing on the line or cleaning the toilet or helping Adoring Husband with something.
The procrastination queen strikes again!
Nite all
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Into the Future
Four or five years ago, Vegan Chickie introduced me to a site where you can write a letter to your future self and then select a date in the future where they return the letter to your email address.
I've been writing to myself every year, talking about my fears, my accomplishments, my hopes and dreams, my disappointments, my celebrations, my highs and my lows.
Every year, I forget that I've done it and every year, I get excited when I see my letter appear in my inbox.
It's always exciting for me to read about my life from just one short year ago and how things have changed in that time. How I've recovered from the low times like the tornado, and how I've coped with challenges like Adoring Husband's and my health issues. How my kid's lives have changed and how they follow their own paths into their future. The new people I meet and how they affect my life.
So I thought I would share the link here and perhaps you would like to try this yourself. Go to this link ...
Dear Future Me
When you've finished your letter, you can choose to make it 'public and anonymous' or 'private' - I always select 'private' and then hit send. They request verification by sending you an email to verify your email address. Upon completion of the process, a box will appear asking you to donate to the site but you don't have to donate at all, just close the page.
That's it!
One of our lovely neighbours dropped by with a packet of fresh fish that he had caught this morning, so I crumbed it with almond meal and shallow fried in coconut oil for lunch. I've never had mackerel before, which is a bit scary because I thought it was mullet, which I know is safe for me to eat. By the time I found out it was mackerel, I had already eaten one fillet.
It's been four hours since lunch with no ill effects, so hopefully, I now have another 'safe' fish to add to my 'non-allergic' list!
My cold is still lingering, but not taking control. I'm putting up a good fight! It's been a pretty lazy Sunday because I figure I should not overdo it to give my body the best chance to keep this cold at bay.
Not so lazy for AH who has been in the garden again working extremely hard!
Oops! It's after 6pm and I haven't even started dinner so I'd best sign off.
Nite all.
I've been writing to myself every year, talking about my fears, my accomplishments, my hopes and dreams, my disappointments, my celebrations, my highs and my lows.
Every year, I forget that I've done it and every year, I get excited when I see my letter appear in my inbox.
It's always exciting for me to read about my life from just one short year ago and how things have changed in that time. How I've recovered from the low times like the tornado, and how I've coped with challenges like Adoring Husband's and my health issues. How my kid's lives have changed and how they follow their own paths into their future. The new people I meet and how they affect my life.
So I thought I would share the link here and perhaps you would like to try this yourself. Go to this link ...
Dear Future Me
When you've finished your letter, you can choose to make it 'public and anonymous' or 'private' - I always select 'private' and then hit send. They request verification by sending you an email to verify your email address. Upon completion of the process, a box will appear asking you to donate to the site but you don't have to donate at all, just close the page.
That's it!
One of our lovely neighbours dropped by with a packet of fresh fish that he had caught this morning, so I crumbed it with almond meal and shallow fried in coconut oil for lunch. I've never had mackerel before, which is a bit scary because I thought it was mullet, which I know is safe for me to eat. By the time I found out it was mackerel, I had already eaten one fillet.
It's been four hours since lunch with no ill effects, so hopefully, I now have another 'safe' fish to add to my 'non-allergic' list!
My cold is still lingering, but not taking control. I'm putting up a good fight! It's been a pretty lazy Sunday because I figure I should not overdo it to give my body the best chance to keep this cold at bay.
Not so lazy for AH who has been in the garden again working extremely hard!
Oops! It's after 6pm and I haven't even started dinner so I'd best sign off.
Nite all.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Spoke Too Soon
After bragging in last night's short post about beating my cold with my natural remedies, I woke up this morning with a cough and bit of congestion! Not happy Jan!
So today, I've pumped the chicken broth into me (3 cups of it) and made a chicken and vegetable soup (one bowl), two deliciously sweet crisp red apples and a rich savoury mince (grass fed mince) full of organic onion, garlic, carrot, celery, zucchini, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms.
I haven't had any honey and lemon yet, but will make myself a big mug of it before I go to bed tonight. I've also been drinking lots of filtered water.
I made enough for twelve containers of chicken broth with this batch which I completed this morning after about 36 hours in the slow cooker.
I finally made up the dog food and got 15 feeds each out of today's concoction. I used 2 kgs chicken mince, 2 kgs of beef mince, 1 whole jap pumpkin (cooked), a large bunch of silverbeet, 3 sticks of celery, 1 large carrot, 4 eggs (shell and all), 4 Tablespoons of coconut oil, 2 Tablespoons of Cod Liver Oil and 4 teaspoons of spirulina.
My new hair curler is amazing! I curled my hair yesterday afternoon before going out to the club. I'm pretty pleased with my first effort and I'm sure, with practise, I will get better at it.
Number One Son called me today. It's always nice to hear from him and I can always count on him for regular phone calls to keep me posted on his happenings.
Adoring Husband has had a busy couple of days in the garden doing lots of maintenance work ... like spring cleaning outdoors ... and it's all looking very good.
Our peach and mulberry trees are bountiful right now, and the avocado trees are full of flowers, the citrus trees have new blossoms, there are delicious cherry tomatoes all ripening beautifully on the vine and the chooks are laying well. I haven't checked the grapes, pomegranate, mango or banana trees. The new sapota tree seems to have established itself well in the back corner.
I'd like to plant lots of green leafy vegetables like baby spinach, rocket, pak choy, silverbeet, kale and chard. I'd like some cucumbers, zucchini, snow peas, radishes and beetroot. That should do it I reckon. I think I have all of those seeds in my fridge waiting to be used.
Well, it might be time to go make my hot lemon and honey drink. Hopefully tomorrow, I will be feeling enthusiastic enough to get some cooking done. I've been collecting some delicious looking sweet recipes because I know how much AH likes the chocolate sweets after dinner.
May tomorrow find me bursting with energetic health!
Nite all.
So today, I've pumped the chicken broth into me (3 cups of it) and made a chicken and vegetable soup (one bowl), two deliciously sweet crisp red apples and a rich savoury mince (grass fed mince) full of organic onion, garlic, carrot, celery, zucchini, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms.
I haven't had any honey and lemon yet, but will make myself a big mug of it before I go to bed tonight. I've also been drinking lots of filtered water.
I made enough for twelve containers of chicken broth with this batch which I completed this morning after about 36 hours in the slow cooker.
I finally made up the dog food and got 15 feeds each out of today's concoction. I used 2 kgs chicken mince, 2 kgs of beef mince, 1 whole jap pumpkin (cooked), a large bunch of silverbeet, 3 sticks of celery, 1 large carrot, 4 eggs (shell and all), 4 Tablespoons of coconut oil, 2 Tablespoons of Cod Liver Oil and 4 teaspoons of spirulina.
My new hair curler is amazing! I curled my hair yesterday afternoon before going out to the club. I'm pretty pleased with my first effort and I'm sure, with practise, I will get better at it.
Number One Son called me today. It's always nice to hear from him and I can always count on him for regular phone calls to keep me posted on his happenings.
Adoring Husband has had a busy couple of days in the garden doing lots of maintenance work ... like spring cleaning outdoors ... and it's all looking very good.
Our peach and mulberry trees are bountiful right now, and the avocado trees are full of flowers, the citrus trees have new blossoms, there are delicious cherry tomatoes all ripening beautifully on the vine and the chooks are laying well. I haven't checked the grapes, pomegranate, mango or banana trees. The new sapota tree seems to have established itself well in the back corner.
I'd like to plant lots of green leafy vegetables like baby spinach, rocket, pak choy, silverbeet, kale and chard. I'd like some cucumbers, zucchini, snow peas, radishes and beetroot. That should do it I reckon. I think I have all of those seeds in my fridge waiting to be used.
Well, it might be time to go make my hot lemon and honey drink. Hopefully tomorrow, I will be feeling enthusiastic enough to get some cooking done. I've been collecting some delicious looking sweet recipes because I know how much AH likes the chocolate sweets after dinner.
May tomorrow find me bursting with energetic health!
Nite all.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Quickie
There is no blog tonight. I've had too much wine and I'm off to bed.
I just wanted to let you know that I beat the flu/cold that was trying to get me on my last day in Griffith.
I had fresh honey from the bees, fresh lemon from the trees, fresh garlic from the ground and fresh ginger from The Nikonian. That combination helped me fight the germs and I have recovered well. Three doses of honey, lemon, ginger and garlic was enough to fight the virus. I also had a tablespoon of fresh honey for breakfast, lunch, dinner and just before bed.
When your diet is pure, it only takes some added freshness like honey, lemon, garlic and honey to put up a good fight and win.
Thank you nature.
Nite all.
I just wanted to let you know that I beat the flu/cold that was trying to get me on my last day in Griffith.
I had fresh honey from the bees, fresh lemon from the trees, fresh garlic from the ground and fresh ginger from The Nikonian. That combination helped me fight the germs and I have recovered well. Three doses of honey, lemon, ginger and garlic was enough to fight the virus. I also had a tablespoon of fresh honey for breakfast, lunch, dinner and just before bed.
When your diet is pure, it only takes some added freshness like honey, lemon, garlic and honey to put up a good fight and win.
Thank you nature.
Nite all.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Weather Event
I woke at about 4am to the sound of rain on the roof.
So there was no trike ride to the fire station this morning .. maybe tomorrow morning.
Adoring Husband brought my coffee to my bedside so that I could spend a lazy couple of hours reading and easing my way into the morning.
I ordered a new hair straightener (because my old one sucks) and a hair curler online from Harvey Norman. Once they confirmed the order, we headed into The Bay at lunch time to pick them up. I really love the 'order and pay online and pick it up in store' idea!! I wish all shops did that!
Unfortunately, though storms were only predicted for Maryborough and further south, as we were heading home, a huge storm followed us. We were pelted with heavy rain that fluctuated between a smashing downpour and soft spray for about 20 minutes.
There were huge puddles across the road that made for some tricky driving and I even made AH pull into a shopping centre car park under some sails to wait for one heavy downpour to finish.
We made it home safe n sound and soon after that, after a couple more heavy showers, the sky cleared and the rain was gone.
Our rain gauge showed 28 mm, but AH hadn't emptied it since the rain last week while I was away, so I don't know how much rain fell today.
I won the flickr challenge this month with my Mallee Ringtail Parrot shot that I took in Griffith while I was there. Now I have to think of a theme for this month and I really have no idea!
Anyway, it was a slow day. I have some chicken bone broth in the slow cooker and tomorrow I need to make up a batch of dog food.
I'm also going to practise with my new hair curler! That should be interesting!
I've reached my midnight deadline, so I'm off to bed.
Nite all.
So there was no trike ride to the fire station this morning .. maybe tomorrow morning.
Adoring Husband brought my coffee to my bedside so that I could spend a lazy couple of hours reading and easing my way into the morning.
I ordered a new hair straightener (because my old one sucks) and a hair curler online from Harvey Norman. Once they confirmed the order, we headed into The Bay at lunch time to pick them up. I really love the 'order and pay online and pick it up in store' idea!! I wish all shops did that!
Unfortunately, though storms were only predicted for Maryborough and further south, as we were heading home, a huge storm followed us. We were pelted with heavy rain that fluctuated between a smashing downpour and soft spray for about 20 minutes.
There were huge puddles across the road that made for some tricky driving and I even made AH pull into a shopping centre car park under some sails to wait for one heavy downpour to finish.
We made it home safe n sound and soon after that, after a couple more heavy showers, the sky cleared and the rain was gone.
Our rain gauge showed 28 mm, but AH hadn't emptied it since the rain last week while I was away, so I don't know how much rain fell today.
I won the flickr challenge this month with my Mallee Ringtail Parrot shot that I took in Griffith while I was there. Now I have to think of a theme for this month and I really have no idea!
Anyway, it was a slow day. I have some chicken bone broth in the slow cooker and tomorrow I need to make up a batch of dog food.
I'm also going to practise with my new hair curler! That should be interesting!
I've reached my midnight deadline, so I'm off to bed.
Nite all.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Photo Shoot Out
I think it's funny .. maybe.
About 8 weeks ago, I was asked by a member of the volunteer fire brigade, if I would go to the station and take photos of their new vehicles and equipment.
He said to me "You're AH's wife aren't you?" I replied "Yes"
He then asked "You're a photographer?" I replied "Yes"
His next question was "Would you come to the station and take some photos of our new equipment?"
My response was "Yes"
I was about to leave for BGWLBH and my road trip, but he was happy to wait for two weeks. We agreed that I would go to the station the first Wednesday after I returned from the holiday.
By the time I returned, I'd forgotten all about it so I missed going there on that first Wednesday.
I ran into him at the local shops and he asked me what had happened. I admitted to my poor memory and said that I would be there the following Wednesday, forgetting (there's that memory problem again) that I was already busy and wouldn't be available. I didn't have a contact phone number, so I couldn't tell him what was happening.
I eventually saw him again and HE was going away, so we arranged it for when he returned.
In the meantime, I had to head south for Dad W's funeral, hence missing the agreed date yet again.
He saw AH during my absence and mentioned that I still hadn't attended the shed, so AH filled him in on my situation and the man said not to worry and to just turn up on a Wednesday after I returned to town.
So today was that Wednesday.
I arrived on my trike with coffee and camera in hand.
He said to me "We've just been looking at the photos. Come through and I'll show you them on the computer in the back room."
I wondered what photos he was talking about, but didn't say anything, and followed him through to the office.
He sat down at a desk top, inserted a USB stick and there appeared a set of photos of the three vehicles he wanted me to photograph.
I commented on the photos and how they needed to be taken in better light at a different time of the day. He then told me that he would like me to get on the roof and take the photos from a higher level.
That was when I asked him who took the photos.
He looked at me and said "I thought you did".
I shook my head and said "No, this is my first visit here. I haven't taken any photos yet."
So he asked a couple of men who were talking to each other nearby. "Who took these photos?"
Their reply was "AH's wife."
I said "I am AH's wife and I didn't take these pics."
"OH? Well we don't know then."
We walked outside and asked two more men and their response was "AH's wife". I repeated my answer.
We walked to the shed and asked another two men. They had the same answer "AH's wife."
When I told them that I was AH's wife, they said "No it was AH McGovern's wife."
It seems that there is another AH whose wife is also a photographer!
So here is how I believe this whole situation occurred, from beginning to end...
All of those weeks ago, at a meeting, after they had taken receipt of the new vehicles, somebody suggested that they get some good photos to put in their newsletter.
One person probably suggested that AH's wife would do it, meaning AH McGovern's wife. Another person, the man who originally asked me, got his wires crossed and thought they meant 'my' AH and me. So I was asked by one person and AH McGovern's wife was asked by another person.
She got there to take the photos before I did!
Now none of this bothers me in the slightest, but that man still wants me to go and take photos from the roof of the shed and I said that I would go take a look at the light in the early morning to figure out where and how to get the shots.
I'm now having second thoughts because, one, I don't want to step on AH McGovern's wife's toes and two, because I don't believe that I was ever the intended photographer in the first place!
Talk about confusing! I think I will withdraw my services.
I did get to spend a little time searching for more Tawny Frogmouth nests, to no avail. There are no nests in the other locations from last year. One of the trees now has a magpie nest in it, so the maggies will scare off any other birds that try to nest there.
Another tree is missing the branch where they nested last year, so they've probably gone searching elsewhere.
I'm on a mission.
Nite all.
About 8 weeks ago, I was asked by a member of the volunteer fire brigade, if I would go to the station and take photos of their new vehicles and equipment.
He said to me "You're AH's wife aren't you?" I replied "Yes"
He then asked "You're a photographer?" I replied "Yes"
His next question was "Would you come to the station and take some photos of our new equipment?"
My response was "Yes"
I was about to leave for BGWLBH and my road trip, but he was happy to wait for two weeks. We agreed that I would go to the station the first Wednesday after I returned from the holiday.
By the time I returned, I'd forgotten all about it so I missed going there on that first Wednesday.
I ran into him at the local shops and he asked me what had happened. I admitted to my poor memory and said that I would be there the following Wednesday, forgetting (there's that memory problem again) that I was already busy and wouldn't be available. I didn't have a contact phone number, so I couldn't tell him what was happening.
I eventually saw him again and HE was going away, so we arranged it for when he returned.
In the meantime, I had to head south for Dad W's funeral, hence missing the agreed date yet again.
He saw AH during my absence and mentioned that I still hadn't attended the shed, so AH filled him in on my situation and the man said not to worry and to just turn up on a Wednesday after I returned to town.
So today was that Wednesday.
I arrived on my trike with coffee and camera in hand.
He said to me "We've just been looking at the photos. Come through and I'll show you them on the computer in the back room."
I wondered what photos he was talking about, but didn't say anything, and followed him through to the office.
He sat down at a desk top, inserted a USB stick and there appeared a set of photos of the three vehicles he wanted me to photograph.
I commented on the photos and how they needed to be taken in better light at a different time of the day. He then told me that he would like me to get on the roof and take the photos from a higher level.
That was when I asked him who took the photos.
He looked at me and said "I thought you did".
I shook my head and said "No, this is my first visit here. I haven't taken any photos yet."
So he asked a couple of men who were talking to each other nearby. "Who took these photos?"
Their reply was "AH's wife."
I said "I am AH's wife and I didn't take these pics."
"OH? Well we don't know then."
We walked outside and asked two more men and their response was "AH's wife". I repeated my answer.
We walked to the shed and asked another two men. They had the same answer "AH's wife."
When I told them that I was AH's wife, they said "No it was AH McGovern's wife."
It seems that there is another AH whose wife is also a photographer!
So here is how I believe this whole situation occurred, from beginning to end...
All of those weeks ago, at a meeting, after they had taken receipt of the new vehicles, somebody suggested that they get some good photos to put in their newsletter.
One person probably suggested that AH's wife would do it, meaning AH McGovern's wife. Another person, the man who originally asked me, got his wires crossed and thought they meant 'my' AH and me. So I was asked by one person and AH McGovern's wife was asked by another person.
She got there to take the photos before I did!
Now none of this bothers me in the slightest, but that man still wants me to go and take photos from the roof of the shed and I said that I would go take a look at the light in the early morning to figure out where and how to get the shots.
I'm now having second thoughts because, one, I don't want to step on AH McGovern's wife's toes and two, because I don't believe that I was ever the intended photographer in the first place!
Talk about confusing! I think I will withdraw my services.
I did get to spend a little time searching for more Tawny Frogmouth nests, to no avail. There are no nests in the other locations from last year. One of the trees now has a magpie nest in it, so the maggies will scare off any other birds that try to nest there.
Another tree is missing the branch where they nested last year, so they've probably gone searching elsewhere.
I'm on a mission.
Nite all.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Thawed Out
The warm Queensland Winter sunshine has today thawed my bones.
I saw my boys at the Seat of Knowledge and sat in the sun with them for about half an hour before meeting the girls for coffee at our usual haunt. There were only four of us. Mardi, Maid Marian, Reality TV Queen and myself. We had plenty to talk about because we didn't leave our table until well after 10am.
Afterwards, I really wanted to pedal around town to search out the Tawny Frogmouth nests, but I'd bought some meat from the butcher, so I had to get home with that, plus Adoring Husband was only going to be home for a few hours, so we were having our main meal as a late lunch. Food preparation was the order of the morning.
I have to mention here that I am liking my new skin care products very much! I've used all of the products now and I really like the feel of it on my skin. I'm not sure how long it's supposed to take before I'm supposed to notice any difference. I've been on the website this evening and there are pages and pages to read about so many different aspects of skincare .. including diet and exercise, organics, naturopathy, ageing etc.
I think that I may have to dedicate some reading time to that site.
Our monthly barbecue at the river was tonight, but AH had a meeting out of town, so I pedalled down to a very windy and uncomfortable evening with some very cold friends, each wearing about 3 layers of clothes. Of course, I told them to toughen up and that they had no idea what 'cold' really was!! Our barbecue lasted all of 75 minutes .. well actually, I pedalled off after 75 minutes, I guess the others may have stayed longer, but I doubt it!
I did, however, discover a new Tawny nest on the way to the barbecue *insert beaming smile here*. These Tawnies attempted to nest in the same tree for the last two years, but something caused them to toss the eggs out of the nest before they hatched. They usually do that when something happens to one of the parents .. the remaining parent knows that they can't care for the chicks on their own and so they toss the eggs.
I will be watching closely and hoping for the best this year, because the nest is quite low and I think I can get some great photos of the little chicks when they hatch. Fingers crossed!
I will do some more searching tomorrow.
My plan was to go to the movies tomorrow, but I think the movies can wait. I have other things that need to be done.
Can you believe that it's almost midnight .. again?
Nite all.
I saw my boys at the Seat of Knowledge and sat in the sun with them for about half an hour before meeting the girls for coffee at our usual haunt. There were only four of us. Mardi, Maid Marian, Reality TV Queen and myself. We had plenty to talk about because we didn't leave our table until well after 10am.
Afterwards, I really wanted to pedal around town to search out the Tawny Frogmouth nests, but I'd bought some meat from the butcher, so I had to get home with that, plus Adoring Husband was only going to be home for a few hours, so we were having our main meal as a late lunch. Food preparation was the order of the morning.
I have to mention here that I am liking my new skin care products very much! I've used all of the products now and I really like the feel of it on my skin. I'm not sure how long it's supposed to take before I'm supposed to notice any difference. I've been on the website this evening and there are pages and pages to read about so many different aspects of skincare .. including diet and exercise, organics, naturopathy, ageing etc.
I think that I may have to dedicate some reading time to that site.
Our monthly barbecue at the river was tonight, but AH had a meeting out of town, so I pedalled down to a very windy and uncomfortable evening with some very cold friends, each wearing about 3 layers of clothes. Of course, I told them to toughen up and that they had no idea what 'cold' really was!! Our barbecue lasted all of 75 minutes .. well actually, I pedalled off after 75 minutes, I guess the others may have stayed longer, but I doubt it!
I did, however, discover a new Tawny nest on the way to the barbecue *insert beaming smile here*. These Tawnies attempted to nest in the same tree for the last two years, but something caused them to toss the eggs out of the nest before they hatched. They usually do that when something happens to one of the parents .. the remaining parent knows that they can't care for the chicks on their own and so they toss the eggs.
I will be watching closely and hoping for the best this year, because the nest is quite low and I think I can get some great photos of the little chicks when they hatch. Fingers crossed!
I will do some more searching tomorrow.
My plan was to go to the movies tomorrow, but I think the movies can wait. I have other things that need to be done.
Can you believe that it's almost midnight .. again?
Nite all.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Perfect Flights
My two flights today were perfect
Both take-offs.
Both landings.
Smooth flying in perfect skies with a tail wind to bring us home early.
I peered out the window for the entire trip, both flights, and watched the ground as it changed from farmland with the long morning shadows of the trees, to mountains with misty fog undulating in the gullies, to cityscapes with sunlight glistening on the opera house and harbour bridge, the river full of ferries and thousands of small boats and yachts as it snaked toward the sea and then finally to the ocean which was the deepest cleanest blue that I've ever seen.
Heading north, on the way home from Sydney, we followed the coastline all the way. The long sandy beaches, the river mouths opening into the ocean. The small towns and the bigger cities changing the landscape. The huge cargo ships out to sea. The thick heavy cloud way out on the horizon. Then recognition as we passed over Fraser Island which was our cue to descend for landing.
The only time I looked away from the view, was when I accepted a glass of water from the flight attendant.
We landed in The Bay ten minutes earlier than expected and Adoring Husband was waiting with a big smile and open arms.
I was starving by the time we landed, so AH took us to 'Eat @ Dan & Steph's' for lunch, where we each thoroughly enjoyed a Cumin Spiced Chicken Salad and a coffee. It's the first time that we've eaten at this restaurant which is owned by the 2013 MKR winners.
The seating is not very comfortable, so we wouldn't go there for a long leisurely lunch, but the service was very friendly, the food was delicious, reasonably priced and it was served promptly.
After some grocery shopping, we came home to be greeted by three very happy and excited psychotic dogs. I think they were happy to see me :)
My head cold still hasn't set in ... I'm hoping that a miracle will occur tonight and I will wake in the morning with a completely clear head!
I've ordered our FROG box for this week.
Another exciting thing that happened today, was me being pounced upon (not literally) by a beautiful Arabic-Canadian man who was selling an organic skincare range at the airport. He was an excellent salesman and I bought some of his product. It's an Australian made and owned company as well. I guess you'll have to watch this space to get my review in about a month.
I'm about to go use it for the first time right now before bed.
Griffith farewelled me with a chilly zero degree morning ... that's bloody cold.
It was extremely hard to say goodbye to BGWLBH this morning. It was our most difficult goodbye yet. Ugh.
So in the words of BGWLBH ...
Good Bloody Nite.
Both take-offs.
Both landings.
Smooth flying in perfect skies with a tail wind to bring us home early.
I peered out the window for the entire trip, both flights, and watched the ground as it changed from farmland with the long morning shadows of the trees, to mountains with misty fog undulating in the gullies, to cityscapes with sunlight glistening on the opera house and harbour bridge, the river full of ferries and thousands of small boats and yachts as it snaked toward the sea and then finally to the ocean which was the deepest cleanest blue that I've ever seen.
Heading north, on the way home from Sydney, we followed the coastline all the way. The long sandy beaches, the river mouths opening into the ocean. The small towns and the bigger cities changing the landscape. The huge cargo ships out to sea. The thick heavy cloud way out on the horizon. Then recognition as we passed over Fraser Island which was our cue to descend for landing.
The only time I looked away from the view, was when I accepted a glass of water from the flight attendant.
We landed in The Bay ten minutes earlier than expected and Adoring Husband was waiting with a big smile and open arms.
I was starving by the time we landed, so AH took us to 'Eat @ Dan & Steph's' for lunch, where we each thoroughly enjoyed a Cumin Spiced Chicken Salad and a coffee. It's the first time that we've eaten at this restaurant which is owned by the 2013 MKR winners.
The seating is not very comfortable, so we wouldn't go there for a long leisurely lunch, but the service was very friendly, the food was delicious, reasonably priced and it was served promptly.
After some grocery shopping, we came home to be greeted by three very happy and excited psychotic dogs. I think they were happy to see me :)
My head cold still hasn't set in ... I'm hoping that a miracle will occur tonight and I will wake in the morning with a completely clear head!
I've ordered our FROG box for this week.
Another exciting thing that happened today, was me being pounced upon (not literally) by a beautiful Arabic-Canadian man who was selling an organic skincare range at the airport. He was an excellent salesman and I bought some of his product. It's an Australian made and owned company as well. I guess you'll have to watch this space to get my review in about a month.
I'm about to go use it for the first time right now before bed.
Griffith farewelled me with a chilly zero degree morning ... that's bloody cold.
It was extremely hard to say goodbye to BGWLBH this morning. It was our most difficult goodbye yet. Ugh.
So in the words of BGWLBH ...
Good Bloody Nite.
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